Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) is best known as a garden plant with a sting, but its root and leaf extracts have a long history in men's health formulas — usually paired with other ingredients rather than used alone.
The SHBG Connection
The leading theory behind Nettle's role in men's supplements involves sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), a protein that binds to testosterone in the bloodstream and makes it biologically inactive. Nettle root is believed to interfere with this binding, which could leave more testosterone in its "free," usable form — without necessarily changing total testosterone levels. Some research also suggests Nettle may inhibit aromatase (the enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen) and 5-alpha reductase (the enzyme that converts it to DHT).
What the Evidence Shows
Much of the supporting data comes from animal studies — for example, research in rats has shown modest but statistically significant increases in testosterone with nettle root supplementation. Human clinical trials remain limited, so while the proposed mechanism is well-reasoned, it hasn't been confirmed at scale in people.
Dosage and Safety
Studies commonly use 300–600 mg of nettle root extract daily. Nettle is generally regarded as safe and well-tolerated, with a low reported rate of side effects — one reason it's a common addition to combination formulas rather than a standalone product.
Where It Shows Up
Nettle Leaf Extract is one of seven ingredients in HorseWood.
See Nettle Leaf in a Full Formula
Check the complete ingredient panel and current pricing.
View HorseWoodSources: Hims, Real Herbs.